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Post by skyeknight on Apr 15, 2017 15:48:37 GMT
Namine ventured out of the office during her lunch break. She had finally gone back to work. With lots of help from Aqua, the LaRues and her therapist. She was still working shorter days than she used to, but her job was no longer in danger. She had finished her packed lunch, but hadn't moved from the bench. She still had time before she was needed back. Besides, the park was far more peaceful and quiet than the police department was. She was jumpy there and even though Aqua had managed to negotiate Namine a private office, she kept fearing that they would drag Vanitas through the doors (in an arrest). She didn't want to see the demon ever again.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 17, 2017 1:29:08 GMT
As the blonde and petite young woman sat at the bench, a huge shadow suddenly fell over her and blotted out the sunlight that had been falling softly onto her form. Immediately a voice followed after the shadow.
"Hey, that you Namine?"
A figure moved around the bench and the owner of the shadow came into view. It was Ralph, wearing his usual plaid shirt and overalls with a sack lunch clutched in one of his massive hands. The Giant looked down at the young woman from his great height and offered her a smile when he realized that it was indeed Namine.
He himself had come to the park to eat his lunch. It was really too nice of a day to simply stay in at his apartment and he had come to the park so that he could enjoy the fine spring weather. However, before he had managed to find a comfortable place to sit and eat his meal, he had spotted the shy BPD sketch artist sitting at a bench. Without another thought, he had gone over to the bench to see if it really was her.
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 17, 2017 2:42:29 GMT
Namine tensed up when something loomed behind her. She turned with her breath held - half expecting a certain demon. Vanitas had shadow powers right? He also had the guts to attack during the day. Instead, it was Ralph. Her relief had to be palpable. She still hadn't broken herself of her fear that Vanitas was going to come back. The man did get out of prison after all.
"R-Ralph, I-It's good to see you," she said.
Good to see it was a familiar - safe - face. Even if they had only spoken the once before, Namine knew Ralph was safe. Aqua hired him to look for clues on Terra and he had helped bring Vanitas to justice. Or at least tried to. The capture part was successful. The punishment... not so much. She returned his smile with a tentative one of her own.
"W-Would you like to sit with me?" she asked.
She scooted over so he wuold have a little more space.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 17, 2017 22:56:24 GMT
When Naimine first turned to face him, Ralph couldn't help but notice how tense she looked or the flicker of fear in her blue eyes. However, a moment later she had relaxed and offered a timid smile along with the invitation to sit with him at the bench.
"Yeah, thanks."
Moving from behind the bench, he slowly lowered himself onto the seat and hoped that his weight wouldn't been too much for it. The bench gave a single protesting groan but didn't collapse. Relaxing a bit, he pulled out a sandwich from his sack and took a large bite from it, carefully watching Namine from the corner of his eye.
They had only spoken once before and she had been very shy then, but something was different now about her. The way she carried herself...the look lingering in her eyes..... it seemed to the Giant that her normal shyness had been replaced with far more fear now. Why?
"So... its been a while since we last ran into each other. How are you doing?"
If Ralph had watched the Bellerouge News, he would have known the answer to that question. However, he had been working several cases during that time and hadn't watched the program regularly. In fact, it wasn't until after the Prison Break that he had finally started to watch the news again.
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 18, 2017 2:18:56 GMT
Namine's hands rested in her lap. Her fingers laced. Her gaze drifted back to the kids playing. What she wouldn't have given to be as care free as they were. Though, things weren't entirely bad. Her friends had become close to her. They came when she needed them most and that's what was important. They had saved her from Vanitas. They were working to save her from herself.
"I'm... I-I've been better," Namine admitted, "B-But I'm getting help."
Through friends and family, she was getting help. A therapist helped too. It wasn't easy to shake what happened to her and Jane with Vanitas. Some people might have been embarrassed to admit that they were getting help, but Namine knew now that it was a strength. She was seeking a way to better herself. Maybe one day she wouldn't be so afraid. Someday...
"W-What about you?" she asked.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 18, 2017 20:58:36 GMT
"Busy."
Something about the way Namine was acting caused Ralph to look thoughtfully at her as he continued to chew on his sandwich.
"I've worked no less then three cases at the same time for the past several weeks. It's no surprise, really, what with the prison break and the BPD being overrun with cases and all. When the police are as overwhelmed as they were, people start looking at other options such as private investigators."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 18, 2017 21:12:28 GMT
"B-But that's good right? That you're getting cases?" she asked.
He had wanted cases before because he had reached a slow period. She had put his flyers up in the BPD waiting area in case the police officers hadn't been able to help the people who came in. Things were hard. The cops were stretched thin, dizzied by the sheer number of things to do and the cases that were washing over them like that. The more people helping the better, the safer the city would be. Namine might not have known Ralph well, but any help was better than none. She offered a meek smile. Ralph might have done the job for money, but she was just glad to see someone helping the city get back on its feet after the incident.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 18, 2017 21:20:22 GMT
"Yeah, and I guess I owe you some thanks for that. After all, you offered to put up those posters for me in the police station. So.....thanks."
Ralph felt this was rather a poor thank you to the young woman but wasn't sure what he could do to properly pay her back for her help. He finished off his first sandwich and pulled out a can of soda from the bag before popping in open and taking a sip.
"I know it's not much, but if you ever need something and I can help you out, let me know. Ok?"
It wasn't much, but at least Namine knew he was trying to pay her back for her kind act. After all, plenty of people would have simply offered him no help at all and yet she had.
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 19, 2017 0:23:51 GMT
"O-Oh... But I wanted to help," she said.
She liked helping. She supposed she got that honestly through her kinder than words Seelie roommate. She only wanted people to be happy. If Ralph was happiest if he had more work and more money, she wanted to do something. Granted, it was getting harder and harder to actually be in the BPD offices. Namine was starting to dread going into work. It hard mostly because she expected Vanitas to be dragged in at any moment.
"You r-really don't have to do anything." she assured him. "B-But if I need anything I-I'll let you know."
She wouldn't want to take advantage of the man's kindness after all.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 22, 2017 8:35:50 GMT
"Good. And besides, I've always been one to try and pay back my debts no matter what."
Ralph took another drink from his soda, his words perfectly sincere. He could still remember when he was only a young Giant living in poverty with his family, struggling to survive with so little to rely on. Things might have gotten much better for his family but he had never forgotten what it was like to live on the margins. Hardly anyone had helped them then but he could easily recall those who had. The same was still true now and if he felt he could pay someone back for their kindness, he wouldn't hesitate to do so.
"So how have things been going for yourself at the BPD? Been pretty busy right around now I imagine, what with the prison break and all."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 22, 2017 16:49:07 GMT
"I-It's not easy." she admitted.
It was noisy and loud. She was now acutely aware of each criminal that was brought in whereas she used to be able to encompass herself in her work so much so that she forgot anyone else was there. She had been moved from an open desk to one of the spare storage rooms, to keep her from losing her nerve. However, going to work wasn't the same. She had been right outside the police station, not even at the corner of the street when Vanitas grabbed her. It shook what little confidence she had.
"V-Vanitas got out." she was proud of herself for being able to even get the name out. "I-I'm afraid they'll bring him in."
She wanted Vanitas to be caught, but she didn't want to be there when he came in. What if he tried to hurt her? What if he was angry. He likely would be.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 23, 2017 23:29:07 GMT
"Yeah, heard about that little son of a bi.....that snot-rag escaping along with a few other big name baddies and plenty of common criminals."
The Giant caught himself before finishing the swear, uncertain if Namine was used to such vulgar language. She seemed so sweet and small, so timid, and he was pretty sure cursing around her would only make her more nervous or uncomfortable. Better to avoid it. He gave a small cough before finishing off his soda crushing the empty can easily in one massive fist.
This he placed back into the bag before pulling out a pack of cookies.
"Well, once they catch him again he'll go straight into that new prison for Others they're building. Word on the street is this one will be made with all kinds of new-fangled security, magical and scientific, so that the Others go in and don't come out. Me? I'll wait and see if the city officials can keep their words before praising them."
Ralph opened the back of cookies while he spoke and started to munch on one before holding out the pack to Namine.
"Want one?"
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 24, 2017 1:47:46 GMT
"I know..." she said softly.
Her roommate had come to her with regret written on her face. She had relayed the message. Vanitas got out, but her father hadn't. She supposed there were a few small miracles. Namine might have quit her job entirely if her father had gotten out as well, moved to another city, and changed her name. All to escape. But leaving would have been hard with Aqua, Jane and Omar as insistent as they were.
"I-Is it really supposed to be that strong?" Namine asked of the prison.
She hated to admit it, but she wanted Vanitas to be imprisoned. So he could never hurt her or anyone else ever again. Still, it left her a little uncomfortable to think that way. She had never wanted that to happen to anyone ever before. When it happened to her father, she felt guilty for being so relieved. Putting her own discomfort aside, she took one of the offered cookies with a tentative smile.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Apr 24, 2017 2:41:09 GMT
"That's what the contractors building it claim, but until it's actually tested I wouldn't put too much stock in it. After all, most of the time officials say things like that just to try and keep the public happy and calm."
Once Namine had taken one of the cookies, Ralph picked out another and tossed it into his mouth. However, as he chewed slowly he realized the young woman could probably do with something more optimistic. He tried to think of a positive spin he could put on this news.
"Then again, with the prison breakout the public official will probably want to make sure something like this doesn't happen again. It doesn't reflect too well on their vote count if criminals keep breaking out and flooding the city."
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Post by skyeknight on Apr 24, 2017 13:28:05 GMT
Namine wondered if her adoration for sweets was common knowledge. Maybe it was because she was a frequent customer of Nevermore at least before Vanitas had gotten to her. It seemed like everyone knew to placate her with sweets when she grew even a little distressed. Still, she nibbled lightly on the cookie. She was slowly falling back into the same routine but with added paranoia and anxiety. It helped that she wasn't afraid of police officers or people like Ralph and Omar who made it clear they only wanted to do the right thing.
"A-At least they're trying," Namine pointed out.
They could have just slapped a 'band-aid' repair on the original prison and threw all of the criminals right back where they were without taking any precautionary measures. Even the government knew this was a big deal. That people had gotten hurt in the prison riots. It could have been worse. The death toll could have been higher. The injuries could have been worse. Some of those criminals weren't known for their kindness and mercy after all. Though, if Namine were honest with herself, those in the upper crust of society were probably insisting that something be done because Garcon Perdu wasn't entirely that far away from their homes. Still, she could be happy that something was getting done.
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